Cheating allegations rock northern Ont. fishing tournament
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says it is investigating “a matter” related to the Top 50 Classic tournament held earlier this month on Lake Nipissing.
“The ministry is currently investigating these matters and as such we are unable to provide any further comment at this time,” the MNRF said in an email Thursday.
Sources have told CTV News that the controversy centres on allegations two teams altered the northern pike they caught Sept. 2 to give them an advantage in the tournament, which has a top prize of $10,000.
Under tournament rules, three of the five northern pike anglers catch must be 61 cm or shorter. In this case, the anglers are accused of catching longer pike and then trimming the tails to get them to the 61 cm limit.
A post on the tournament’s Facebook page refers to allegations of cheating in the tournament.
“These anglers are denying these acts,” the post said.
“That means without definitive proof that the anglers altered fish during tournament hours, they (were) entitled to fish on Sunday.”
The post also said that the people accused of cheating were being encouraged* to take a polygraph test to prove their innocence.
The post, dated Sept. 5, said organizers were trying to arrange the tests and added that anyone refusing to take the polygraph would be “permanently banned from top 50 Pike Series” and any related tournaments.
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
“We know the 2023 season didn’t end the way any of us wanted it to, however we wanted you to know it is being dealt with,” the post said.
In a message to CTV News, tournament organizers said they couldn’t comment on the incident until the MNRF completes its investigation.
“But we would be more than happy to once it’s concluded,” the message said.
Correction
An earlier version of this story said the anglers had agreed to take a polygraph. In fact, they were being encouraged to take it to clear their names.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Cindy Woodhouse to be AFN national chief after David Pratt concedes
Cindy Woodhouse will be the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations after David Pratt conceded the election following six rounds of voting.
Canada being hit by 3 separate storm systems: Here's where
Winter weather is underway in parts of Canada with three storm systems bringing messy conditions from B.C. to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Calgary mayor won't attend annual menorah lighting ceremony
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek won't be attending this year's annual menorah lighting, a ceremony that marks the beginning of Hanukkah, because she says the event has deeply divided residents.
Vegas shooter who killed 3 was a professor who recently applied for a job at UNLV, AP source says
Terrified students and professors cowered in classrooms and dorms as a gunman roamed the floors of a University of Nevada, Las Vegas building, killing three people and critically wounding a fourth before dying in a shootout with police.
The stunning 30-hour train ride that sells out in seconds
Historically a commuter train from Ankara to Kars, the train has gone viral among Turkish influencers in recent years for its stunning scenery through the east, full of off-the-beaten-path treasures.
Here's how much more it's expected to cost to feed a family of 4 in Canada next year
A new report by more than 30 researchers is estimating how much food will cost in 2024 and how much money it will take to feed families.
Oil, gas emissions to be cut by at least one-third by 2030: Guilbeault
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the oil and gas industry will have to cut emissions more than one-third by 2030. A framework outlining the cap is being published today with plans to publish draft regulations next spring and get the final regulations in place in 2025.
Are you pronouncing that right? Most mispronounced words and names in 2023
Some of the words tied to this year's hottest topics were also among the most mangled when it came to saying them aloud
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Widening Israeli offensive in southern Gaza worsens dire humanitarian conditions
The Israeli military hit Rafah in southern Gaza twice overnight, residents said, as United Nations officials warned there are no safe places left in the besieged territory.
Barrie
-
Barrie man charged with accessing, possessing and making child pornography available
A 37-year-old man faces charges in connection with a child exploitation investigation in Barrie.
-
Boots and Hearts 2024 star-studded lineup revealed
Dust off your spurs, polish those buckles, and grab your cowboy hats because the 2024 Boots and Hearts Music Festival lineup is here.
-
Donor-dependent hospice faces uncertain future without provincial funding
Hospice Muskoka offers a place for loved ones to experience their end-of-life in a dignified manner surrounded by love, but without funding, it could be on the verge of closure.
Toronto
-
Police release image of suspects wanted in Yorkdale Cartier store smash-and-grab
Toronto police have released images of three of the four suspects allegedly responsible for a smash-and-grab robbery at a high-end jewelry store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre earlier this week.
-
'We're still together': Family, friends testify in defence of Toronto mother, once convicted of killing disabled daughter
Taking the stand for a second time in her life, Amanda Ali rejected prosecutor’s suggestions that her mother smothered her disabled teenage sister in an act of mercy at their Scarborough townhouse in 2011, instead detailing a loving and happy home life.
-
New photos released of suspects after Toronto area movie theatre sprayed with unknown aerosol
Police have released new photos of suspects believed to have sprayed an unknown substance into a group of approximately 200 moviegoers at a Vaughan, Ont. cinema.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa issues $400,000 in fines for violating winter weather parking ban during first storm of the season
Bylaw officers buried Ottawa motorists in parking tickets for violating the winter weather parking ban during the first significant snowstorm of the season.
-
Shooting at Hull home had the wrong target, Gatineau police say
No one was hurt when several shots were fired at a home on rue Saint-Hyacinthe at approximately 12 a.m. on Wednesday.
-
Ottawa home sales slow as interest rate brings about hesitancy
Ottawa's real estate market typically slows down during the colder months of the year, and this year is shaping up to be no exception.
Kitchener
-
Renowned scholar, with ties to Waterloo, Ont. university, reportedly killed with his family in Gaza
Sofyan Taya, a former guest scholar at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike near Gaza City. His friend and former colleague called him a brilliant and gentle soul.
-
Kitten stolen from Waterloo, Ont. pet store has been found
The 12-week-old kitten, who was stolen from a Waterloo, Ont. pet store, is now in the care of a local cat rescue.
-
Pedestrian struck on busy Kitchener street
Police are appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage after a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle Wednesday in the south-end of Kitchener.
London
-
14-year-old pedestrian killed in hit-and-run
Just before 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, OPP and EMS responded to the scene of a crash between a car and a pedestrian on Fairground Road near Cultus.
-
Crossing the street a little 'out of reach' in Old East Village
A London woman has generated some buzz on social media after a post on Facebook from an Old East Village neighbourhood.
-
More beds being added to Children's Hospital ED
The emergency department at Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre is expanding.
Windsor
-
'It’s the talk of the town': Here’s what you need to know to enter the EV auto sector
Workforce Windsor-Essex has launched a website specifically designed to outline skills required to get into the industry.
-
Woman charged with impaired driving after fatal west end crash
Windsor police are investigating a serious collision in the west end.
-
271 ER trips diverted by Nurse Police Team
Windsor police say the Nurse Police Team has diverted 271 visits to hospital emergency departments in almost seven months.
Montreal
-
Union negotiations: Legault 'very open on monetary issues'
As the Common Front of 420,000 public sector unionized workers kicks off its new seven-day strike on Friday, Premier François Legault says he is 'very open on monetary issues.'
-
Teachers' union FAE to submit new counter-offer to Quebec government
Quebec teachers’ union the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) will soon be tabling a counter-offer to the government in a bid to break the deadlock in negotiations over the next round of collective agreements.
-
Federal, Quebec ministers say major grocers need to sign code of conduct
The federal and Quebec agriculture and food ministers are calling on all members of the grocery industry supply chain to sign onto a code of conduct.
Atlantic
-
Here's how much more it's expected to cost to feed a family of 4 in Canada next year
A new report by more than 30 researchers is estimating how much food will cost in 2024 and how much money it will take to feed families.
-
Public Safety Minister terminates state of emergency order in St. Stephen
Minister Kris Austin says the concerns expressed by St. Stephen, N.B., are serious, but do not garner the local state of emergency act.
-
Road rage suspect hit by car in Saint John: police
Police in Saint John, N.B., say they are searching for witnesses and video following a road rage incident on Highway 1 around noon Tuesday.
Winnipeg
-
BREAKING
BREAKING Cindy Woodhouse to be AFN national chief after David Pratt concedes
Cindy Woodhouse will be the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations after David Pratt conceded the election following six rounds of voting.
-
Slew of heat records broken in Manitoba
A number of southern Manitoba cities, towns and communities broke heat records on Wednesday, with above-seasonal temperatures expected to continue for the next few days.
-
Hookah lounge owner worried as city eyes possible ban
A Winnipeg hookah lounge owner is worried about a potential ban they say could put them out of business.
Calgary
-
Calgary mayor won't attend annual menorah lighting ceremony
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek won't be attending this year's annual menorah lighting, a ceremony that marks the beginning of Hanukkah, because she says the event has deeply divided residents.
-
Calgarians greeted by snow following weeks of warm weather
After enjoying a month of above seasonal temperatures, residents in Calgary are being reminded of winter and all the cold temperatures and slippery roads that come with it.
-
10 things to do in and around Calgary this weekend (Dec. 8-10)
Ten things you and your family can do this weekend.
Edmonton
-
Alberta Pension Protection Act passes third reading in early morning vote
The Alberta Pension Protection Act passed its third reading early Thursday morning.
-
Man charged in May hit-and-run that killed pedestrian on Jasper Avenue
A man has been charged in connection to a fatal hit-and-run in downtown Edmonton in May.
-
Oil, gas emissions to be cut by at least one-third by 2030: Guilbeault
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the oil and gas industry will have to cut emissions more than one-third by 2030. A framework outlining the cap is being published today with plans to publish draft regulations next spring and get the final regulations in place in 2025.
Vancouver
-
'Targeted' shooting in Mission Superstore parking lot leaves man seriously injured
A shooting in a Superstore parking lot in Mission left one man seriously injured Wednesday evening, according to authorities.
-
Men charged with assault with a weapon, forcible confinement in 'targeted' incident on Vancouver Island
Mounties on Vancouver Island say two men are facing multiple charges after investigators found evidence that another man had been forcibly confined and assaulted with a weapon.
-
Surrey Police Service chief on transition delays, body-worn cameras, 'cordial' relationship with mayor
If all goes according to plan, by 2026, the only police officers on the streets of B.C.’s fastest-growing city will be members of the Surrey Police Service.
